The article discusses evidence supporting the age of the universe, estimated at about 13.8 billion years, primarily derived from the temperature of the cosmic microwave background and the universe’s expansion. However, the discovery of the star HD 140283, known as Methuselah, raised questions. Located about 200 light-years away in Libra, this fast subgiant star has very low metallic content, indicating it formed early in the universe’s history.
Initial studies in the early 2000s suggested Methuselah could be around 16 billion years old, which contradicted current cosmological models. However, determining a star’s age is complex and relies on accurate measurements of brightness and chemical composition. Astronomers improved distance estimates to Methuselah to 190.1 light-years, leading to more precise age calculations. Current research pegs Methuselah’s age between 13.7 and 12.2 billion years, with a broader estimate of 11.5 to 12.5 billion years.
Despite its biblical name suggesting extreme age, Methuselah is likely not older than the universe. While it remains the oldest known star, further discoveries, like star J22132050-5137385, could challenge its status or revise age estimates. Overall, Methuselah does not disprove the universe’s age but highlights the ongoing complexity of stellar aging and cosmology.
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